Mersey Reporter - #Merseybites #News

THE Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has rescued a duck and a pigeon who was caught up in fishing litter in the North West, before releasing them back into the wild.

On Tuesday, 12 March 2024, Animal Rescue Officer (ARO) Benedict Marshall was called to a pigeon spotted hanging upside down from a tree in Newsham Park, Sheil Road, in Liverpool.

The poor bird had become entangled in fishing wire and couldn't free himself from the tree. When the Officer arrived at the scene, he was told by a member of the public that they believed the poor bird had been there for 2 days.

Benedict said:- "This poor bird had become the victim of fishing litter and was hanging upside down from a very tall tree. He was at the top so I needed to call Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service to assist me. Thankfully, they were able to provide a cherry picker so that I could go up, whilst wearing a harness, and cut the pigeon free from the wire. I gave him a quick check over, but it soon became clear that the wire was very tightly tangled around his toes and was cutting off the circulation so I took him to a vet for further help."

The exotic team at Rutland House Vets was able to remove the fishing wire and then kindly kept the pigeon under observation for pain relief for 2 days until the feathery friend was able to walk again.

Benedict added:- "After a couple of days, I was able to pick him up from the vets and then release him so it was a really good happy ending! Old drink cans and bottles, plastic items, fishing litter, and even disposable vapes are just some of the items that pose a danger to our wildlife. Animals can swallow the litter or become entangled, leading to injuries, mutilations, and even death. Many of these reports are avoidable and people can help us create a kinder world for every animal, by getting involved in Keep Britain Tidy's Great British Spring Clean, which runs until:- 31 March 2024."

This year, the RSPCA is once again backing the Great British Spring Clean; so we can all do our bit to help wildlife. The RSPCA added:- "We've received nearly 13,000 reports about animals found:- severely injured, trapped, mutilated, choked or even dead from carelessly discarded litter over the past 4 years."

Elsewhere in the North West, Animal Rescue Officer (ARO) Steve Wickham and former inspector Mark Buggie assisted in helping a duck that had become tangled in fishing wire along the canal at Lowerhouse Lane in Burnley, Lancashire.

They were called on:- Wednesday, 20 March 2024, and were able to wade across the water to rescue the duck and bring it to safety.

Steve explained:- "The poor duck was well and truly trapped in the fishing wire which was wrapped around its wing and feet and tangled in low hanging branches above the water, but thankfully we were able to untangle the duck and release him back onto the water then and there. He was lucky that he didn’t have any injuries. This rescue highlights why it's so important that people dispose of their fishing litter properly so that animals like this poor duck don’t suffer."

In the hope of preventing future casualties, those who enjoy fishing are being reminded of the dangers that are posed to wildlife from discarded equipment and encouraged to follow the Angling Trust's Take 5 campaign and make use of the Anglers National Line Recycling Scheme to dispose of their waste tackle and line. For more information, please see:- RSPCA.Org.UK.

Elsewhere in the North West, Animal Rescue Officer (ARO) Steve Wickham and former inspector Mark Buggie assisted in helping a duck that had become tangled in fishing wire along the canal at Lowerhouse Lane in Burnley, Lancashire.

They were called on:- Wednesday, 20 March 2024, and were able to wade across the water to rescue the duck and bring it to safety.

Steve explained:- "The poor duck was well and truly trapped in the fishing wire which was wrapped around its wing and feet and tangled in low hanging branches above the water, but thankfully we were able to untangle the duck and release him back onto the water then and there. He was lucky that he didn’t have any injuries. This rescue highlights why it's so important that people dispose of their fishing litter properly so that animals like this poor duck don’t suffer."

In the hope of preventing future casualties, those who enjoy fishing are being reminded of the dangers that are posed to wildlife from discarded equipment and encouraged to follow the Angling Trust's Take 5 campaign and make use of the Anglers National Line Recycling Scheme to dispose of their waste tackle and line. For more information, please see:- RSPCA.Org.UK.